Her Return, His Regret

Adan Nicholson frowned when he saw his friend break down.

He felt bad because Ryan had been this way for six years. Although he never really expressed his feelings, he mostly drowned himself in alcohol, a look of regret crossing his face.

Was he going to sink into that hole of despair once again?

"Have you explained everything to her?" He asked after Ryan's sobbing reduced.

"I have... well, not everything. After all, I was the one responsible for saving and protecting her. I was her husband for fucksakes. I can't blame others for my incompetence," Ryan replied, his voice hoarse and his eyes red from crying. Whatever explanation he had didn't matter... it would still be an excuse. The fact was that he had failed Lora and he was paying for it at the moment.

Adan sighed, guilt creeping into him. If this continued, he was afraid Ryan would lose himself again.

When they parted ways, he took out his phone and called his assistant.

"I want you to find out Lora Davis' schedule," he instructed before cutting the call.

Ryan was his best friend and he was like a brother to him. Adan couldn't stand seeing him look so helpless. He had to do something.

The next day, Lora attended a business seminar at one of the hotels in the city.

It was there that she met one Adan Nicholson during lunch.

She was at the buffet when he approached her, saying, "Lora, good to see you."

Lora glanced at Adan and smiled. She replied, "Good to see you too... although I didn't think you attended these kinds of events."

"I'm a businessman too, Lora," Adan said before picking up a plate and joining Lora in getting some food.

"So, I hear you want to formalise your separation from Ryan?" Adan stated and Lora arched an eyebrow.

"I see that Ryan has already snitched," Lora remarked.

"He's my best friend. I know almost everything about him. Just like Bianca knows almost everything about you," Adan responded.

"Well, it was long overdue. There was no marriage anyway... since we've been separated for six years. We just have to put it on paper," Lora said.

They finished plating their food and walked towards one of the empty tables. It was from there that Adan uttered, "I'm part of the reason why you couldn't be saved in time before the explosion."

Lora's heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Adan, her eyebrows creasing.

What did he mean he was part of the reason why she couldn't be saved? Wasn't Ryan choosing to save Ivy first the only reason?

Actually, Lora somehow understood Ryan. They were both kidnapped and the kidnapper asked him to save one person. He probably chose Ivy because she was the weakest and most vulnerable at that time. However, it all turned out to be a lie. Ivy was never disabled and was playing with Ryan's mind and kindness.

Lora sighed and said, "You don't need to explain, I already understand why Ryan did it. To be honest, I would probably do the same-saving someone vulnerable first before coming back for the able-bodied one."

"No... it's not like that," Adan uttered. He looked at Lora and continued, "He never came alone that night. I was with him and a few of our men but because he was asked to go alone had to hide somewhere Ryan went in and was faced with a difficult choice to make. He prioritised saving Ivy because of her condition, confident that I would save you in time before he rushed back for you."

Lora frowned, her heart racing as she listened.

"Ryan is smart. Did you really think he would come alone on such a dangerous mission?" Adan asked and then added,Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

"He just didn't say anything because

he doesn't want to blame me. I was about to charge in with our men the moment Ryan took Ivy out, however, we suddenly saw the thugs run away and since I knew that Ryan would come back for you anyway, I decided to direct our men tochase after the thugs... leaving you in the warehouse. I didn't know they had set the place ablaze until I saw the explosion. I tried to run back but I was too late and Ryan was too late too... the fire was too huge, no one could go in or out."

Lora's stomach churned. It turned out that Ryan was telling the truth. He did come back for her.

"If only we knew that Ivy was behind that kidnapping and that she had no intention of letting you live, I swear, Ryan would have saved you first and would have cared less about Ivy," Adan added.

"But... didn't Ryan love Ivy at that time? I remember him spending most of his time with her when she returned," Lora asked.

"Love? Ryan never loved Ivy and he

never spent most of his time with her either. That day when she returned, Ryan was shocked to still see her in a wheelchair. He didn't know at that time but most of her injuries were self-inflicted to

manipulate him... when we

Pal

thought you died, Ryan regretted it so much. In the last six years, he had never been intimate with Ivy... nothing happened between them. In the eyes of the public, they were a couple but in reality, Ryan only had you in his heart. You're the only one he's ever loved..."

Lora's heart skipped another beat. To be honest, she was afraid of love. That thing was scary if it wasn't reciprocated.

The pain, the anguish, the jealousy that came with it was unbearable. She had promised herself she would protect her heart so that she wouldn't feel that sort of pain ever again. However, Adan's words kept ringing in her mind, slowly breaking her resolve.

Ryan was never with Ivy...

"Ryan loves you, Lora. Only you. Please give him another chance," Adan pleaded for his friend.